Intraluminal vascular prosthesis

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an intraluminal vascular prosthesis, preferably for implanting in the aortic arch. The prosthesis has a hollow cylindrical body with a first end and a second end; a first vascular prosthesis portion; a second vascular prosthesis portion; and a stent portion which is provided between the first and the second vascular prosthesis portion and which is rigidly connected to said vascular prosthesis portions, said stent portion being free of prosthesis material.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/445,833, filed Jul. 29, 2014, which is a continuation ofinternational patent application PCT/EP2013/052037, filed on Feb. 1,2013 designating the U.S., which international patent application hasbeen published in German language and claims priority from German patentapplication DE 10 2012 100 839.6, filed on Feb. 1, 2012. The entirecontents of these priority applications are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an intraluminal vascular prosthesis, inparticular for implanting in the aortic arch, having a hollowcylindrical body with a first end and a second end, wherein the vascularprosthesis has, at its first end, a first vascular prosthesis portion,with successive rings of meandering supports, and a prosthesis materialsecured on the rings and connecting them.

In particular, the present invention relates to vascular prostheses thatare implanted in the area of the aortic arch.

It is generally known for intraluminal vascular prostheses, alsoreferred to as endovascular stents or stent grafts, to be implanted inarteries in order to treat aneurysms. An aneurysm is understood as awidening or bulging of an arterial blood vessel as a consequence ofcongenital or acquired lesions of the vessel wall. The bulge can affectthe vessel wall as a whole or, in what is called a false aneurysm ordissection, blood flows from the lumen of the vessel in between thelayers of the vessel wall and tears these apart from one another.Non-treatment of an aneurysm may lead to a rupture of the artery inadvanced stages, after which the patient suffers internal bleeding.

Aneurysms often occur in the area of the abdominal aorta (aortaabdominalis) or thoracic aorta (aorta thoracica). For treatment ofaneurysms in the abdominal or thoracic aorta, it is already known tostabilize the artery by implantation of a stent, so that a rupture ofthe vessel is avoided.

The vascular prostheses or implants used for the treatment of suchaneurysms generally consist of a hollow cylindrical metal framework ofwhich the jacket surface is covered by a textile or polymer film, i.e. aprosthesis material, such that a hollow cylindrical body is obtained.For implantation, the vascular prosthesis is radially compressed, suchthat its cross-sectional area is greatly reduced. With the aid of aninsertion system, the vascular prosthesis is then brought into the areaof the aneurysm, where it is released and, if appropriate, sutured. Byvirtue of the resilience of the metal frame, the vascular prosthesisexpands again to its original shape and in so doing stretches its jacketsurface, which lodges inside the blood vessel proximally and distally inrelation to the aneurysm. In this way, the blood now flows through thevascular prosthesis, and further loading of an aneurysm is avoided. Themetal framework of the vascular prosthesis, covered by the prosthesismaterial, is composed, for example, of so-called stent rings, which arearranged in succession and are made of a self-expanding material.

An aneurysm can occur not only in the abdominal aorta or thoracic aorta,but also in the ascending branch of the aorta (aorta ascendens). Theascending branch of the aorta is connected directly to the heart.Starting from the aortic root (sinus aortae), the ascending branchextends upward in a slightly curved shape away from the heart and mergesthere into the aortic arch (arcus aortae). The vessels of the head,among others the left and right carotid arteries, branch off in the areaof the aortic arch. The aortic arch follows a curve of approximately180° with a very narrow radius and connects the ascending branch of theaorta to the thoracic aorta and eventually to the abdominal aorta.

An aneurysm or a dissection in the ascending branch of the aorta hashitherto been treated by invasive open surgery. Such surgery hasgenerally required two major interventions to be performed at differenttimes and entails a very extensive, complex and therefore dangerousoperation, since it is not just the heart but also the brain and theabdominal organs of the patient that have to be subjected to hypothermicperfusion, i.e. artificial, cold extracorporeal blood flow. However,only a small number of heart surgeons at specialist centers aresufficiently familiar with such a procedure.

In the prior art, no vascular prosthesis, stent system or stent graftsystem is yet known with which the surgery outlined above could be madeeasier and performed in a shorter time, and, consequently, there isstill a great need for such a system.

An object of the present invention is therefore to make available asystem with which the area of the ascending aorta, of the aortic archand of the descending aorta can be treated quickly and in anuncomplicated manner, and which also allows the procedures outlinedabove to be performed by less experienced surgeons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other objects are achieved by an intraluminal vascularprosthesis having a hollow cylindrical body with a first end and asecond end, wherein the vascular prosthesis comprises, at its first end,a first vascular prosthesis portion, with successive rings of meanderingsupports, and a prosthesis material secured on the rings and connectingthem, and wherein the vascular prosthesis has, at its second end, asecond vascular prosthesis portion which has only a prosthesis materialand has no successive rings of meandering supports connected to theprosthesis material, wherein the vascular prosthesis moreover has astent portion which is provided between the first vascular prosthesisportion and the second vascular prosthesis portion and which is rigidlyconnected to said vascular prosthesis portions, said stent portion beingfree of prosthesis material.

By means of the inventive combination of two relatively short vascularprosthesis portions, i.e. a first one constituting a vascular prosthesisportion covered with prosthesis material and a second one composed onlyof prosthesis material, with a free and uncovered stent portion lyingbetween these vascular prosthesis portions, it is possible to treat thethree portions of the aorta, namely the ascending aorta, the aortic archand the descending aorta, simultaneously and thus significantly reducethe time needed for the surgical intervention. It is thus possible todispense with resection of the aortic arch, and with all the associatedcomplex perfusion requirements for the brain and lower body, and theintervention can be carried out simply by separating the uppermostportion of the ascending aorta in a short (ca. 10-20 minute) selectivehead perfusion phase or hypothermic arrest phase in order to insert andrelease the new vascular prosthesis. It can be inserted and releasedsimply with monitoring by the naked eye or by angioscope.

According to the invention, therefore, an intraluminal vascularprosthesis is for the first time made available with which it ispossible to simplify surgical interventions on the aortic arch, or inthe ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta, and to greatlyreduce the time needed for these interventions. Advantageously,therefore, it is not just highly specialized heart surgeons who canperform the above-described interventions on the aortic arch. Moreover,the vascular prosthesis according to the invention can also be used onseverely diseased patients, and also on elderly patients presenting withage-related damage to the layers of the aortic wall and withnon-perfusion of vital organ systems such as the brain and abdominalorgans, since these can be used with a shortened and surgically simplermethod.

The three portions of the vascular prosthesis form a unit and can beproduced from one piece or are rigidly/fixedly connected to one another,for example by sewing.

Advantageously, the stent portion free of prosthesis material can bereleased in the expanded state in the area of the aortic arch. Thisensures that the blood flow into the branching-off vessels, such as thebrachiocephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery and the leftsubclavian artery, is not impeded. The blood flowing through the aorticarch, and through the vascular prosthesis to be anchored therein, canleave through the openings present in the stent portion of the vascularprosthesis. It is at the same time ensured that the vascular prosthesisis anchored securely in the vessel via the vascular prosthesis portionlying to the left and right of the stent portion. This can be achievedby radial expansion forces of the first vascular prosthesis portion, orof the rings present therein, and by the resulting bearing of thevascular prosthesis on the vessel wall in these areas, and by suturingto the wall of the aorta the second vascular prosthesis portion which,according to the invention, has no meandering rings and supports or onlyoptionally has these.

Therefore, in a further embodiment of the intraluminal vascularprosthesis according to the invention, at least the first vascularprosthesis portion, or rather the rings thereof, and the stent portionfree of prosthesis material are made from a self-expanding material orhave such a material. Self-expandable materials are known to a personskilled in the art in the field of vascular implants, and an example ofa preferred material here is Nitinol.

The prosthesis material used in the vascular prosthesis according to theinvention, and provided in the first and second vascular prosthesisportions, is, in an embodiment of the present invention, chosen frompolyester, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene orultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMPE) and preferablyconstitutes a woven polyester fabric.

According to another preferred embodiment, the first vascular prosthesisportion has between two, three, four and five, preferably three,successive rings of meandering supports. These rings are interconnectedonly by the prosthesis material. The supports or rings themselves arenot interconnected by webs or the like and are not in direct contactwith one another. This embodiment has the advantage that a personskilled in the art can adapt the length of the vascular prosthesisportion to the particular conditions of the vessel, i.e. in particularto the diameter of the vessel and to the desired length in the vessel.

In the vascular prosthesis according to the invention, provision is madethat the first, covered vascular prosthesis portion comes to lie in thedistal direction in relation to the subclavian artery, the uncoveredstent portion comes to lie in the aortic arch, and the second vascularprosthesis portion comes to lie in the proximal aortic arch.

Here, “proximal” denotes the direction or position closer to the heart,while “distal” denotes the direction or position that lies or comes tolie farther away from the heart.

In other words, the first vascular prosthesis portion is thereforesituated at the distal end area of the vascular prosthesis and cantherefore also be designated as the distal vascular prosthesis portion,and the second vascular prosthesis portion is situated at the proximalend area of the vascular prosthesis and can therefore be designated asthe proximal vascular prosthesis portion. In other words, the uncoveredstent portion therefore represents the third vascular prosthesisportion, which represents an uncovered stent portion of the vascularprosthesis.

Generally, the first covered vascular prosthesis portion and the secondvascular prosthesis portion, and the uncovered stent portion lyingbetween them, each have a proximal end and a distal end. The distal endof the first vascular prosthesis portion and the proximal end of thesecond vascular prosthesis portion together form the outermost ends ofthe vascular prosthesis, wherein the first vascular prosthesis portionis provided at the distal end of the vascular prosthesis, and the secondvascular prosthesis portion is provided at the proximal end. The distalend of the second vascular prosthesis portion is connected to theproximal end of the uncovered stent portion, and the distal end of theuncovered stent portion is connected to the proximal end of the firstvascular prosthesis portion.

According to a further embodiment, the second vascular prosthesisportion has between zero and five rings of meandering supports arrangedin succession. The second vascular prosthesis portion, which comes tolie in the proximal aortic arch, can be sewn on in this area of theaorta, such that this stent graft portion does not necessarily need tohave rings/supports.

In another embodiment of the vascular prosthesis according to theinvention, the first vascular prosthesis portion has three successiverings of meandering supports, which are connected to one another by theprosthesis material, and the second vascular prosthesis portion iscomposed only of prosthesis material and has no rings or supportsconnected indirectly to one another in the prosthesis material.

According to one embodiment, the stent portion free of prosthesismaterial is a braided or twisted wire braid or has such a wire braid. A“wire braid” is understood here as any configuration of a stent in whichdifferent wire strands are intertwined, interlaced or otherwise coupledto form a structure with zones, areas or points at which the strands lieover one another, and with zones or areas that are free of the wirestrands and that therefore form openings or windows or meshes.

According to an alternative embodiment, the stent portion free ofprosthesis material is a laser-cut tube. This embodiment also has meshesor openings through which the blood carried in the aorta or in theaortic arch can leave the aorta and pass into the branching-off vessels,in particular the brachiocephalic trunk, the left common carotid arteryand the left subclavian artery, and thus ensures supply of blood tothese vessels.

According to an embodiment, the first and second vascular prosthesisportions have a length of between ca. 20 mm and ca. 100 mm, and theuncovered stent portion has a length of between ca. 30 mm and ca. 100mm.

The present invention further relates to a method for releasing theintraluminal vascular prosthesis according to the invention, said methodhaving the following steps:

-   -   introducing the intraluminal vascular prosthesis in the        compressed state into the aorta, in such a way that the whole of        the first vascular prosthesis portion is positioned in the        distal direction in relation to the subclavian artery;    -   transferring the intraluminal vascular prosthesis to the        expanded state, in such a way that the stent portion free of        prosthesis material is released in the aortic arch in the area        of the origins of the brachiocephalic trunk, the common carotid        artery and the left subclavian artery, and the second vascular        prosthesis portion is released in the proximal direction in        relation to the origin of the brachiocephalic trunk.

This method ensures that the vascular prosthesis according to theinvention is positioned in such a way that the uncovered stent portionallows blood to flow into the branching-off vessels of thebrachiocephalic trunk, the common carotid artery and the left subclavianartery.

It will be noted here that the first, covered vascular prosthesisportion ends with its proximal end, namely the end connected to thedistal end of the uncovered stent portion, slightly in the distaldirection from the origin of the subclavian artery. The uncovered stentportion is now released in the aortic arch, the wire meshes or theopenings of the laser-cut stent portion being so wide that there is nodanger of blocking the origins of the vessels of the head and neck(brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid artery, left subclavianartery). In the proximal direction from the origin of thebrachiocephalic trunk, the second, stent-free vascular prosthesisportion is released and can be sutured to the proximal aortic arch. Thismethod has the advantage that, if the upper part of the ascending aortafor example has already been replaced, this hemostatic suture willsimultaneously encompass the vascular prosthesis.

Thus, the vascular prosthesis according to the invention and the methodfor introducing and releasing it afford the advantage that a tear or ananeurysm present in the area of the ascending aorta can be treated, asbefore, by resection and conventional prosthetic management using thesecond stent graft portion, and, at the same time, any remaining tearsof the intima in the proximal descending aorta or in the aortic arch canbe safely stabilized, specifically without danger of rupture in the longterm. This can also be achieved in particular by the vascular prosthesisbeing made, for example, 10% to 20% larger and longer than is needed(oversizing).

Particularly in the case of a dissection or complex aneurysm of thethoracic aorta, the surgical outlay and time involved is therefore athird of that needed for operations and systems used hitherto in theprior art, with comparable results, and therefore the risk of theintervention can be significantly lessened.

Further advantages will become clear from the figures and from thefollowing description of preferred illustrative embodiments.

It will be appreciated that the aforementioned features and the featuresstill to be explained below can be used not only in the respectivelycited combination but also in other combinations or singly, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing andare explained in more detail in the description below.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a vascular prosthesisaccording to the invention (not to scale), in the non-inserted butexpanded state;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a vascularprosthesis according to the invention (not to scale), likewise in thenon-inserted but expanded state; and

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the embodiment from FIG. 1 whenpositioned and released in the aortic arch.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, reference number 10 designates the whole of a vascularprosthesis according to the invention, with a hollow cylindrical body11, and with a first, distal end 12 and a second, proximal end 13. Atits distal end 12, it has a first vascular prosthesis portion 14, and,at its proximal end, it has a second vascular prosthesis portion 16. Astent portion 18 is provided centrally between the first vascularprosthesis portion 14 and the second vascular prosthesis portion 16,which stent portion 18 is free of prosthesis material and has open cellsor pores 20 through which blood can pass into the branching-off vessels.

The first vascular prosthesis portion 14 and the second vascularprosthesis portion 16 both have a prosthesis material 15, 17,respectively. In the vascular prosthesis shown in FIG. 1, the firstvascular prosthesis portion 14 has successive rings 19 of meanderingsupports 20 which are interconnected only by the prosthesis material 15,to which they are sewn, for example by sutures 21. The meanderingsupports 20 or rings 19 together form a hollow cylindrical or tubularbody. The rings 19 are preferably made of Nitinol. The embodiment of thevascular prosthesis 10 shown in FIG. 1 has four rings 19 in its vascularprosthesis portion 14, although it will be clear to a person skilled inthe art that the number of the rings may be different depending on thepatient and on the condition and requirements of the vessel.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the second vascularprosthesis portion 16 does not have rings or any other stent elements,and instead is composed only of prosthesis material 17, which is shapedin such a way that it likewise forms a hollow cylindrical body. Thisportion is designated as the cuff. The first vascular prosthesis portion14 thus constitutes a distal vascular prosthesis portion, the stentportion 18 constitutes the central vascular prosthesis portion, and thesecond vascular prosthesis portion 16 constitutes the proximal vascularprosthesis portion.

The prosthesis material 15 and 17 is preferably of a materialimpermeable to blood, preferably woven polyester fabric.

The stent portion 18 of the vascular prosthesis 10 can be a wire braidcomposed of intertwined Nitinol wires, or it can be a laser-cut Nitinolstent. In both cases, openings or windows or meshes 20 are formedthrough which blood from the vessel and the vascular prosthesis can passthrough and can flow off in surrounding and branching-off vessels.

FIG. 1 also shows in detail the ends of the individual portions 14, 16and 18 of the vascular prosthesis. Thus, the first vascular prosthesisportion 14 has a distal end 22 and, with its proximal end 23, adjoinsthe distal end 24 of the stent portion 18, the proximal end 25 of thelatter in turn adjoining the distal end 26 of the second vascularprosthesis portion 16 which, with its proximal end 27, forms theoutermost proximal end of the vascular prosthesis.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a vascular prosthesis 30 accordingto the invention, where features the same as those of the vascularprosthesis 10 in FIG. 1 are provided with the same reference signs. Thevascular prosthesis 30 also has a hollow cylindrical body 31 and adistal end 32 and proximal end 33, and it also has a first vascularprosthesis portion 34 and a second vascular prosthesis portion 36. Likethe first stent graft portion 14 of the embodiment 10 shown in FIG. 1,the first vascular prosthesis portion 34 has successive rings 19 ofmeandering supports 20, which are interconnected by a prosthesismaterial 35. Moreover, a stent portion that is free of prosthesismaterial and that has open cells or openings 40 is indicated by 38.

The embodiment 30 shown in FIG. 2 has a second vascular prosthesisportion 36 which, like the first vascular prosthesis portion 34 in thisembodiment, has successive rings 19 of meandering supports 20 and iscovered by a prosthesis material 35 connecting the rings 19. As in FIG.1, the first vascular prosthesis portion 34 constitutes a distalvascular prosthesis portion, the stent portion 38 constitutes thecentral vascular prosthesis portion, and the second vascular prosthesisportion 36 constitutes the proximal vascular prosthesis portion.

Finally, in FIG. 3, the embodiment of the vascular prosthesis accordingto the invention depicted in FIG. 1 is shown in a state when insertedinto an aorta 50. In FIG. 3, reference sign 52 designates a part of theascending aorta, 54 designates the aortic arch, and 56 designates thedescending aorta. As will be seen from FIG. 3, three vessels 57, 58 and59 branch off in the area of the aortic arch 54, namely thebrachiocephalic trunk 57, the common carotid artery 58, and the leftsubclavian artery 59.

FIG. 3 also indicates the placement and positioning of the embodiment ofthe vascular prosthesis 10 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1.It will be noted that the second vascular prosthesis portion 16, or thedistal end 26 thereof, begins in the proximal direction in relation tothe brachiocephalic trunk, furthermore that the central stent portion 18free of prosthesis material is released in the aortic arch 54 and cansupply blood to the branching-off vessels 57, 58 and 59 through itscells or openings or meshes 20, and that, finally, the first stent graftportion 14, or the proximal end 23 thereof, begins in the distaldirection in relation to the left subclavian artery 59.

For inserting the vascular prosthesis 10, 30 according to the invention,it is loaded onto an insertion system (not shown) and is maintained in acompressed state by a suitable sheath (not shown). Methods and devicesfor inserting vascular prostheses are known from the prior art and arefamiliar to a person skilled in the art. The vascular prosthesis 10, 30maintained in a compressed state is advanced into the descending aortauntil the proximal end 23 of the vascular prosthesis 10, 30 lies in thedistal direction in relation to the subclavian artery. The correctplacement can be monitored, for example, by suitable markers, e.g.radiopaque markers, provided on the vascular prosthesis 10, 30. Aftercorrect placement, the vascular prosthesis 10, 30 can now be released bypulling back the sheath, such that, following the first vascularprosthesis portion 14, the uncovered stent portion 18 free of prosthesismaterial is released in the aortic arch 54, the openings or meshes 20being so wide that there is no danger of blocking the origins of thevessels 57, 58 and 59 of the head and neck (brachiocephalic trunk, leftcommon carotid aorta, left subclavian artery).

Lastly, in the proximal direction from the origin of the brachiocephalictrunk 57, the second vascular prosthesis portion 16 is now released andcan be sutured, for example, to the proximal aortic arch. If the upperpart of the ascending aorta 52 has already been replaced, thishemostatic suture will simultaneously encompass this stent graftportion.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that he can determineand specifically adapt the exact dimensions and spatial requirements ofthe individual vascular prosthesis portions, i.e. of the first andsecond vascular prosthesis portions 14, 16 and of the stent portion 18,by preliminary examination of the patient who is to be treated.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An intraluminal vascular prosthesisdesigned for implantation in the area of the ascending aorta, the aorticarch and the descending aorta in a patient in need thereof, wherein thevascular prosthesis for introduction into the aorta can be transferredfrom a compressed state to an expanded state, the vascular prosthesishaving a hollow cylindrical body with a first end and a second end,wherein the vascular prosthesis comprises, at its first end, a firstvascular prosthesis portion, with successive rings of meanderingsupports, and a first prosthesis material secured onto the rings andconnecting them, wherein the vascular prosthesis has, at its second end,a second vascular prosthesis portion consisting exclusively of a secondprosthesis material and not having successive rings of meanderingsupports connected to the second prosthesis material, wherein thevascular prosthesis moreover has a tubular stent portion which isprovided between the first vascular prosthesis portion and the secondvascular prosthesis portion and which is fixedly connected to saidvascular prosthesis portions, said tubular stent portion beingsubstantially free of any prosthesis material and consisting of aself-expanding stent material and having meshes or openings, wherein thesecond prosthesis material of the second vascular prosthesis portionoverlaps with the tubular stent portion, such that the tubular stentportion is only covered in the connecting area with the second vascularprosthesis portion and otherwise remains free from prosthesis material,and wherein the stent portion is designed for a release in the area ofthe aortic arc in the area of the origins of the brachiocephalic trunk,the common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery, such, that thestent portion allows blood to flow into the branching-off vessels of thebrachiocephalic trunk, the common carotid artery and the left subclavianartery, and wherein the first vascular prosthesis portion for a releasein the distal direction in relation to the subclavian artery, and thesecond vascular prosthesis portion for a release in the proximaldirection in relation to the origin of the brachiocephalic trunk.
 2. Theintraluminal vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein thefirst vascular prosthesis portion and the second vascular prosthesisportion are designed for anchoring the vascular prosthesis in the aorta.3. The intraluminal vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe first vascular prosthesis portion has a self-expanding material. 4.The intraluminal vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein thefirst vascular prosthesis portion has between two and five rings ofsuccessive meandering supports.
 5. The intraluminal vascular prosthesisas claimed in claim 1, wherein the first vascular prosthesis portion hasthree successive rings of meandering supports, which are connected toone another by the prosthesis material.
 6. The intraluminal vascularprosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stent portion free ofprosthesis material has a braided or twisted wire braid.
 7. Theintraluminal vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein thestent portion free of prosthesis material is a laser-cut tube.
 8. Amethod for releasing the intraluminal vascular prosthesis as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the method has the following consecutive steps:introducing the intraluminal vascular prosthesis in the compressed stateinto an aorta of a patient, in such a way that the whole of the firstvascular prosthesis portion is positioned in the distal direction inrelation to the subclavian artery; transferring the intraluminalvascular prosthesis to the expanded state, in such a way that the stentportion free of prosthesis material is released in the aortic arch inthe area of the origins of the brachiocephalic trunk, the common carotidartery and the left subclavian artery, and the second vascularprosthesis portion is released in the proximal direction in relation tothe origin of the brachiocephalic trunk.
 9. The intraluminal vascularprosthesis as claimed in claim 1 for use in the treatment of dissectionsor aneurysms of the thoracic aorta.